Cheek seat

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a supplemental motorcycle seat for the rear passenger that provides additional lateral seat support. The supplemental seat includes a pair of side cushions and a pair of support frames. The support frames define a support for the seat cushions and are designed to be mounted to the motorcycle by accessory supports customarily provided with stock motorcycles. The support frames are mounted such that a seat cushion is positioned adjacent to each side of the seat provided with the motorcycle and extend laterally outward from each side of the motorcycle seat. The frames are also mountable to the frame of a touring pack (frame for a rear trunk) that is capable of being mounted to the motorcycle accessory supports, allowing the support seats to be individually mountable or mountable in combination with the tour pack.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/640,983, filed on Aug.14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,903, the contents of which areincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a supplemental seat for motorcycles.

RELATED ART

Motorcycle seats tend to be narrow to provide both an aestheticallysleek look as well as some maneuverability for the rider. However, ontrips of long duration, narrow motorcycle seats may not provide thesupport required for the rider. Some accommodation has been made in themarketplace to provide additional support by widening the seats fordrivers and to provide supplemental seats for rear passengers. Of someimportance is ease of installation and removal of these supplementalseats for rear passengers. Supplemental seats are desirable for longtrips, but may be inconvenient on trips of short duration.

Some of these supplemental seats, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,792 B1 toGoin, require replacement of the motorcycle seat with a speciallydesigned seat that will accommodate interlocking side pads. Anothersupplemental seat illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,671 to Shavitz,provides a seat overlay that must be custom built to form a secure bondwith the particular motorcycle seat it covers and expands.

There is a need for a supplemental motorcycle seat for rear seatpassengers that does not require significant modification or replacementof the stock motorcycle seat and which can be quickly attached anddetached.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first preferred embodiment, the supplemental motorcycle seat of thepresent invention includes a pair of seat cushions and a pair of supportframes. The support frames each define a platform to supportsupplemental seat cushions and flanges for attachment of the supportframes to accessory supports provided on the frame of the motorcycle.The seat cushions are mounted on the platform of the support frames andthe support frames are mounted, one on each side of the motorcycle seat,so that the seat cushions are positioned adjacent and extend laterallyfrom the seat provided with the motorcycle. In the alternative, theflanges can be directly attached to the frame of common tour packsmounted to the motorcycle accessory supports. (A tour pack typicallyincludes a framework for supporting a rear trunk; the framework issecured to accessory supports provided on the motorcycle. With manymotorcycles, such as those produced by Harley-Davidson®, these accessorysupports include quick release mechanisms allowing easy installation andremoval of accessories. There are typically at least two accessorysupports on each side of the motorcycle.)

When used with a tour pack, the support frames are fixed to the frame ofthe tour pack such that the seat cushions extend laterally outward fromeach side of the seat provided with the motorcycle. Removal of the tourpack is quick and easy, and the supplemental seats are simply removedwith the tour pack.

When extra seat support is desired, the supplemental seats of thepresent invention are quickly and easily installed directly to themotorcycle using existing accessory supports provided with themotorcycle, without modification to original equipment; when thesupplemental seats of the present invention is secured to common tourpacks, only minimal modification (drilling two holes) is initialrequired; after that, the supplemental seats are readily installed orremoved with the tour pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a motorcycle with the supplemental seatsof the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a motorcycle tour pack frame to which issecured a first preferred embodiment of the supplemental seat of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the supplemental seat of thepresent invention in combination with a motorcycle back rest;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a first preferred present invention,including support brackets and seat cushions; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a frame of a common tour pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention of a lateral or supplemental motorcycle seat willbe described as it applies to its preferred embodiments. It is notintended that the present invention be limited to the describedembodiments. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications,equivalents and alternatives which may be included within the spirit andscope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicatecorresponding structure throughout the several views, and referring inparticular to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of thelateral seat assembly 40 according to the present invention, mounted ona motorcycle 10 of common configuration. The present invention isparticularly designed to be compatible with Harley-Davidson® motorcyclesequipped with standard “quick release” accessory supports (toaccommodate at least a tour pack). A typical motorcycle seat 12 isconfigured to define a driver's (or front passenger's) seat 13 and arear passenger seat 14. A tour pack 20 is mounted on the motorcycle 10to support rear trunk 24. Rear trunk 24 is also shown equipped with aback rest 26. The lateral seat assembly 40 of the present invention ismounted either to the tour pack frame (which in turn is mounted to theaccessory supports of the motorcycle frame) or directly to the accessorysupports of the motorcycle frame such that each seat cushion 50 issubstantially level with and extends laterally from the passenger seatprovided with the motorcycle.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a common tour pack frame 100 includes twotubular side supports 102 having a generally U-shaped configuration. Theside supports 102 are secured in generally parallel alignment with eachother (perhaps slightly inclined inwards towards each other at the top)by a rear base plate 104 and a front base plate 105. The base plates 104and 105 are oriented transversely with respect to the tubular sidesupports 102 and are welded near their ends 106 to the tubular sidesupports 102 at the top side of the side supports 102. The tubular sidesupports 102 are further secured together at the front end 103 of thetubular side supports 102 by a generally up-side-down U-shaped mountingbar 108. A first end 110 of each of the tubular side supports 102 aresecured to the top of mounting bar 108 at or near the lateral edge ofthe mounting bar 108. A second end 112 of tubular side supports 102 issecured to a free end 109 of mounting bar 108 either by weld, pins orother means.

The front base plate 105 further includes openings 107 that correspondto openings 116 on L-shaped brackets 114 of the present invention (FIG.2). When the side cushion assembly 40 of the present invention ismounted on the tour pack frame 100, the L-shaped brackets 114 of thepresent invention are secured to and beneath the front base plate 105 bystandard bolts extended through openings 107 and 116.

Strategically positioned and extending downward from a bottom leg of thetubular side supports 102 of tour pack frame 100 is a first flange 120defining a slot 121. A second flange 122 is defined at the forwardextending second end 112 of tubular side support 102 and defines asecond slot 123. Flanges 120 and 122 are designed to engage quickrelease mechanisms mounted on the motorcycle accessory supports (notshown) that are well known in the prior art, for quick and easy mountingof the tour pack to the frame of motorcycle 10. The tubular sidesupports 102, base plates 104 and 105 and mounting bar 108 form agenerally rectangular, light weight support for the rear trunk 24 andalso provide a framework to which the lateral seat assembly 40 can besecured.

Referring to FIG. 4, in a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the lateral seat assembly 40 includes seat cushions 50 ofgenerally banana shape (inward curvature facing the main motorcycle seatto mate with the outward curvature of the main motorcycle seat).Although the seat cushions are illustrated with having generally opposedbanana shapes to coincide with the support needed for a seated passengeron the motorcycle 10, it is anticipated that other configurations arepossible. Mounting bolts 52 extend downward from a base 51 of the seatcushions 50. The seat cushions 50 are designed to be mounted ontocushion supports 60.

Cushion supports 60 include tubular supports 62 formed in a generallyU-shape. (Tubular supports are commonplace and provide strength withminimal weight.) When cushion support 60 is mounted to the tour packframe 100, first free end 63 of tubular support 62 is attached to the Lbracket 114 which in turn is attached to front base plate 105 of thetour pack frame 100, and second free end 64 of the tubular support 62 issecured, typically bolted, to the flange 122 of tour pack frame 100. Acommon tour pack does not include an opening in flange 122 to receive abolt to secure second free end 64 of the tubular support 62 to flange122; thus, minor modification, drilling a mating hole in each sideflange 122, is required. A pair of spaced support plates 70 withopenings 72 are secured, typically by weld, between and to each leg ofthe U-shaped tubular supports 62 as shown in FIG. 4, to form twoseparated, planar supports for the seat cushions 50. The openings 72 insupport plates 70 are spaced to mate with bolts 52 so that seat cushions50 can be secured to the support plates 70.

The first preferred embodiment of the present invention 40 is secured tothe tour pack frame and extends laterally on each side of the rearpassenger seat. Because the tour pack frame 100 is secured to the quickrelease accessory supports on the frame of the motorcycle, thesupplemental seats of the present invention are quickly removed orattached with the tour pack assembly 20.

In a second preferred embodiment of the lateral seat assemblyillustrated at 75 in FIG. 3, the second embodiment of lateral seatassembly 75 is designed to be mounted in combination with a back restassembly 76. The second embodiment of a lateral seat assembly 75includes a pair of L-shaped side mounting plates 80. A vertical leg 81of each side mount plate 80 supports the back rest assembly 76 andincludes mounting brackets (not shown) for receiving tubular supports130 that support backrest cushion 131. The horizontal leg 83 of sidemounting plate 80 includes strategically placed openings 90 thatcorrespond to openings 79 in L-shaped support brackets 78. The L-shapedsupport brackets 78 are used to secure the seat cushions 50 to the sidemounting plates 80 with standard bolts and nuts. However, other meansfor securing the seat cushions 50 to the side mounting plates 80 whicharc presently known in the art are anticipated by the present invention.

The horizontal leg 83 of side of each mounting plate 80 further includesa downward extending flange 94 extending downward from the rear, bottomedge of the horizontal leg 83. Flange 94 includes a slot 96 for engagingan accessory support (not shown) provided on the frame of motorcycle 10.At the front end of the horizontal leg 83 is another U-shaped, forwardfacing flange 98 deferring a second slot 99 also designed to engage anaccessory support (not shown) provided on the frame of motorcycle 10.Flanges 98 and 94 are designed to releasably engage the accessorysupports to secure the side mounting plates 80 in place. One of theplates 80 is positioned on each side of the main motorcycle seat. Theseat cushions 50 are mounted on the side mounting plates 80 such thatthey are located adjacent to and extend laterally outward from the seatprovided with the motorcycle, in opposite directions from each other.

Both embodiments of the present invention are easy to use, may bequickly installed and removed from a motorcycle equipped with accessorysupports. The present invention requires no modification of mostHarley-Davidson® motorcycles to mount directly to the frame accessorysupports and minimal modification (drilling one hole in each flange 122)to be mounted to a Harley-Davidson® compatible tour pack frame as shownat 100. Although particularly compatible with Harley-Davidson®motorcycles, the present invention is believed to be compatible with allmotorcycles and tour packs of design similar to that disclosed herein.

1. A seat assembly for expanding a width of a motorcycle passenger seat, the seat assembly comprising: a back rest accessory frame assembly for supporting a back rest, the back rest accessory frame being detachably connected to accessory supports of a motorcycle; a pair of side seat support frames, each of the side seat support frames comprises a side seat cushion support member and at least one mounting member, the at least one mounting member being removably connectable to the back rest accessory frame assembly, wherein the back rest accessory frame assembly can support each of the side seat support frames in an area proximate the motorcycle passenger seat; at least one side seat cushion being disposed on each of the side seat cushion support members; and a back rest cushion disposed to the back rest accessory frame assembly.
 2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the back rest accessory frame assembly comprises a pair of side mounting plates connected to and extending between the mounting members and a pair of bifurcated leg portions of the back rest assembly.
 3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the side mounting plates includes at least one opening that corresponds to at least one opening in the side seat support frames, wherein at least one fastener extends therethrough to releasably secure the two together.
 4. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the mounting plates includes a horizontal leg portion having a downwardly extending flange, the flange having a slot that can engage the accessory support.
 5. The seat assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the mounting plates includes at least one notch located at a front end thereof to releasably engage an accessory support.
 6. A seat assembly for expanding a width of a motorcycle passenger seat, the seat assembly comprising; a tour pack accessory frame assembly to support a tour pack, wherein the tour pack accessory frame assembly is detachably connected to accessory supports of a motorcycle; a pair of side seat cushion assemblies, each of the side seat cushion assemblies comprises cushion supports, each of which includes at least one bracket that is removably attached to the tour pack accessory frame assembly, wherein each of the side seat cushion assemblies can extend toward and be positioned in an area proximate to the motorcycle passenger seat; and a pair of side seat cushions, the side seat cushions being disposed on the cushion supports.
 7. The seat assembly of claim 6, wherein the tour pack accessory frame assembly includes at least two side supports secured in generally parallel alignment.
 8. The seat assembly of claim 7, further comprising at least one plate extending between the side supports to support a tour pack, wherein the at least one bracket of each of the side seat cushion assemblies is removably connectable to the at least one plate.
 9. The seat assembly of claim 7, further comprising at least one mounting bar connected to and extending between each of the side supports, wherein a first end of each of the side supports is secured to a top of the mounting bar and a second end of the side supports is secured to free ends of the mounting bar.
 10. The seat assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the side supports includes a bottom leg portion having at least one first flange defining at least one first slot and at least one second flange defining at least one second slot, wherein each of the flanges and slots is designed to engage quick release mechanisms mounted on the motorcycle accessory supports.
 11. The seat assembly of claim 10, wherein the side seat cushion support includes at least one first free end that is attached to the bracket and at least one second free end that can be secured to a portion of the tour pack accessory frame assembly.
 12. The seat assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one support plate connected to each of the side seat cushion supports to support the side seat cushions.
 13. A seat assembly for expanding a width of a motorcycle passenger seat, the seat assembly comprising: an accessory frame assembly for supporting motorcycle accessories, wherein the accessory frame assembly is detachably connected to accessory supports of a motorcycle; a pair of side seat support frames, each of the side seat support frames comprises a side seat cushion support member and at least one mounting member, the at least one mounting member being removably connectable to the accessory frame assembly; and a pair of seat cushions, each of the seat cushions being disposed on one of the side seat cushion support members, wherein the side seat cushion support members and seat cushions can be disposed in an area generally adjacent opposed sides of the motorcycle passenger seat.
 14. The seat assembly of claim 13, wherein the accessory frame assembly comprises at least a pair of side mounting plates, each of the side mounting plates being connected to and extending downwardly from at least a pair of bifurcated leg portion supports that support a backrest cushion, wherein each of the side mounting plates is disposed in an area adjacent to opposed sides of the motorcycle passenger seat.
 15. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the side mounting plates includes an opening that corresponds to an opening in the side seat support frames, wherein at least one fastener extends therethrough to releasably secure the two together.
 16. The seat assembly of claim 14, wherein each of the side mounting plates includes a horizontal leg portion having a downwardly extending flange, the flange having a slot that can engage the accessory support of the motorcycle.
 17. The seat assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the mounting plates includes a notch located at a front end thereof to releasably engage an accessory support of the motorcycle.
 18. The seat assembly of claim 13, further comprising a back rest and a back rest cushion being mounted to the accessory frame assembly.
 19. The seat assembly of claim 13, further comprising a tour pack mountable to the accessory frame assembly.
 20. The seat assembly of claim 13, further comprising a back rest and a tour pack being mountable to the accessory frame assembly. 